Advance Auto, only a few bucks for a star drive

 

I'd check into the tool as suggested... if you can fix it yourself for the cost of a tool, that would be even better. it may just be loose.

 

I have a 2004.5 CTD too and had this exact same thing happen. The unit is the Hydroboost for the brakes. Diesels don't have a vacuum system, so everything is hydraulic. The hydroboost unit runs off the power steering pump.

I had the exact same symptoms, I noticed a wet oily look on the side of the frame on the driver's side one day and then found small puddles on the ground. Took it in and they said I needed a new hydroboost unit. The cost to fix mine was $758. $560 for the part (that's what I was quoted) and the rest labor. I looked aorund onlie for non-MOPAR brand replacement units and found them to be more or less the saem price on the very few places that had them, one was even more expensive than the MOPAR part. I was 1100 miles past the warranty [:@]

When they put the new one in, they also added a new bracket that fits onto it somehow. Evidently, they are aware of a problem with this setup if they designed a new bracket for it. I'm a little miffed there hasn't been a recall of any kind.Yours is the third 2004.5 truck that I'm aware of that has had this problem.

 

hum. . .no problems out of mine. . .just turned 49K yesterday.

BTW, the 2nd gens use a vacuum pump to help power the brakes. it has a common shaft with the power steering pump. 3rd gens (03) is when it was moved over to the power steering pump creating the power.